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Thousands gather in Wa for global Catholic prayer congress

Politics

Second Global Rosary Congress in Wa

By Big Man·2 hours ago·06:05 GMT·2 min read

Thousands of Catholics and members of other faiths gathered at Wa Malik Jaabre Sports Stadium for the second Global Rosary Congress, a three-day spiritual event promoting evangelisation and peace. Religious leaders and state officials calle

The rosary must be utilised as a weapon of prayer rather than a simple accessory.
— Bishop Peter Paul Yelezuome· Bishop of Damango Diocese

Founder credits Blessed Virgin Mary with miraculous car escape

He shared a personal testimony of surviving a near-fatal car accident in 2016, attributing his miraculous escape from a burning vehicle to the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Traditional leadership endorses Congress as source of blessing

Religious diversity in Wa families has always been a source of strength rather than division, and the Wa Naa's representative welcomed the spiritual gathering, affirming the palace's belief that where prayer goes up, blessings come down.

Thousands of Catholics, alongside diverse religious groups and traditional leaders, have convened at the Wa Malik Jaabre Sports Stadium for the second edition of the Global Rosary Congress. The three-day spiritual gathering, aimed at promoting evangelisation and peace, has drawn high-profile clerics and state officials advocating for religious harmony and spiritual renewal.

Bishop of Damango Diocese Peter Paul Yelezuome delivered the keynote address, urging the Christian community to view the Rosary as a powerful tool for evangelisation rather than a passive tradition. He challenged the faithful to bear witness to Christ's teachings in their daily lives to counteract societal vulnerabilities such as poverty, illiteracy, and tribal tensions that threaten the region's peace.

The rosary must be utilised as a weapon of prayer rather than a simple accessory.

Origins and expansion of the Congress

Reverend Father David Obeng Paintsil, Founder and Leader of the Global Rosary Network, recounted the origins of the Congress, which evolved from digital prayer sessions held during the 2022 pandemic closures. He attributed his survival of a near-fatal car accident in 2016 to the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, describing how the doors of his burning vehicle opened without human intervention and his seat belt released on its own. The incident, he stated, solidified his dedication to spreading the Rosary.

Government and traditional support

Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing expressed the region's enthusiasm in hosting the event, emphasising the devotion's capacity to foster peace and mutual respect across different religious denominations. He pledged his support for the spiritual exercise and promised to purchase 50 rosaries for distribution among attendees lacking the prayer beads.

The traditional leadership also threw its weight behind the Congress. Representing the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, Divisional Chief Naa Wayodi Saaka delivered a message underscoring the deep-rooted religious tolerance in the municipality. He noted that religious diversity in Wa families has always been a source of strength rather than division, and the palace affirmed its belief that where prayer goes up, blessings come down.

Mentioned in this story

Bishop Peter Paul Yelezuome
Bishop of Damango Diocese

Delivered the keynote address at the Global Rosary Congress, urging Christians to use the Rosary as a tool for evangelisation and to bear witness to Christ's teachings to address societal issues like poverty and tribal tensions.

“The rosary must be utilised as a weapon of prayer rather than a simple accessory.”
Reverend Father David Obeng Paintsil
Founder and Leader of the Global Rosary Network

Recounted the origins of the Congress, which began as digital prayer sessions during the 2022 pandemic, and shared his personal testimony of surviving a near-fatal car accident in 2016 that he attributes to the Blessed Virgin Mary's intervention.

Charles Lwanga Puozuing
Upper West Regional Minister

Expressed regional support for the Congress and pledged to purchase 50 rosaries for distribution among attendees lacking prayer beads.

Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV
Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council

Through his representative Divisional Chief Naa Wayodi Saaka, welcomed the spiritual gathering and affirmed the palace's support, emphasizing the municipality's tradition of religious tolerance and diversity as a source of strength.

Wa Malik Jaabre Sports Stadium
Venue/Location

Hosted the second Global Rosary Congress, drawing thousands of Catholics and diverse religious groups for the three-day spiritual gathering.